How do I set up an early access post

  • Updated

Early access posts are a way to share work with your members before it goes live on Patreon.

Setting up an early access post isn’t an option on the Patreon app. You can schedule an early access post on the Patreon desktop app. See the FAQ section below for a workaround for the Patreon app.

Creating an early access post

  1. While logged in to your creator account, click on the Create button from the left-hand side of your creator menu
    • If you also sell digital products via Commerce, you’ll need to select the Post option from the Create menu
  2. Draft your post as you normally would
    • If you’re uploading a video or audio post, make sure the Make this a Drop button is turned off; otherwise, you won’t be able to set it as an early access post – you can learn more about Drops here
    • You can add your post to an existing or new collection by clicking on Collections. Learn more about creating a collection
  3. Click the Next button to set your post options. Let us know to whom you’d like the post to be viewable (required). 
  4. Toggle the Early access button
  5. Choose the date and time (must be at least 24 hrs in the future) you’d like your post available for everyone to view – these Patreon posts can be viewed by anyone who has a link to your page
  6. You can publish your post immediately for members or schedule it to be published later (details below)

Scheduling an early access post to publish later

  1. Select the Schedule post tick box
  2. Set a publish date and time. Be sure to select a date before your post will be available for everyone so that the early access feature serves its purpose
  3. Click the Schedule button and you’re all set!

How will my members be notified of the early access post?

If they have email notifications enabled for posts, your members will receive an email about the early access post (if they have access).

Once the post goes to everyone on the date you set, all other members and followers will get an email notifying them they can view the post if they have email notifications enabled.

FAQ

  • Early access posts can only go from certain tiers/all members access to available to everyone.

  • If you’d like to release an early access post to everyone ahead of the scheduled public date, you can update the post by clicking edit. You can then make the post available to everyone. That simple 🙂.

    Once you make an early access post visible to everyone, you won’t be able to make the post early access again. So be sure that you’re ready to have the post accessible to everyone.

  • If you’d like to set up an early access post and are creating your post on the go, you can create your post on the Mobile web version (i.e. Chrome or Firefox) of Patreon to schedule your early access post. Alternatively, draft your post in the app (we’ll autosave your edits), and revisit your post to add early access on desktop or mobile web at a later time. Learn more about scheduling your posts.

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